Sukhoi Chief: Superjet 100 Safe, Reliable

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 continues to attract new orders, despite the high-profile crash of a prototype in May near Jakarta

Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk, the president of SSJ100 manufacturer Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC), says the aircraft builder is working to increase the jet’s production rates. He maintains the SSJ100 remains reliable and safe to fly and says no customers have sought to cancel orders.

“The majority of our customers, partners and other stakeholders assured us that they believe in the SSJ100’s success and will support us in running this program,” Prisyazhnyuk said in an interview with Aviation Week’s Show News.

At a suppliers’ conference held in Moscow in mid-June, key partners and suppliers reaffirmed their support for the SSJ100 program and their readiness to undertake all necessary measures to increase production rates and improve their product quality.

And on June 16, Russia’s second-largest airline, Transaero, signed a $212-million contract for six Sukhoi Superjet 100/95B aircraft, with options for 10 more.

Prisyazhnyuk says production facility expansion and supplier ramp-ups should allow SCAC to assemble up to three aircraft per month, starting in the third quarter. Plans call for deliveries of about 20 production aircraft this year, including initial SSJ100 deliveries to three customers outside of Russia -- Sky Aviation, Lao Central Airlines of Laos and Inter- jet of Mexico.